Distributed architecture for a system and a method of operation of the system incorporating a graphical user interface controlling functions in a vehicle cabin

Abstract

A distributed architecture for multi-nodal control of functions in an aircraft cabin. The distributed architecture includes a processor, a controller operatively connected to the processor, a passenger IO node operatively connected to the controller, and a crew IO node operatively connected to the controller. The passenger IO node and the crew IO node are capable of controlling at least one of light intensity in the aircraft cabin, color of light in the aircraft cabin, temperature in the vehicle cabin, and a degree of openness of one or more window shades in the aircraft cabin. A method and an executable computer program product also are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A distributed architecture for multi-nodal control of functions in an aircraft cabin, comprising:
 a processor; 
 a controller operatively connected to the processor; 
 a passenger IO node operatively connected to the controller; and 
 a crew IO node operatively connected to the controller; 
 wherein the controller controls at least one controllable parameter in response to inputs received from the passenger IO node and the crew IO node, 
 wherein the at least one controllable parameter comprises at least one of light intensity in the aircraft cabin, color of light in the aircraft cabin, temperature in the aircraft cabin, and a degree of openness of one or more window shades in the aircraft cabin, and 
 wherein the controller includes a command hierarchy to prioritize inputs received from the passenger IO node and the crew IO node, thereby avoiding conflicts between the inputs. 
 
     
     
       2. The distributed architecture of  claim 1 , wherein the controllable parameters are associated with at least one of the entire cabin of the aircraft, at least one zone within the cabin of the aircraft, or at least one seat within the cabin of the aircraft. 
     
     
       3. The distributed architecture of  claim 1 , wherein the controllable parameters also includes at least one of media type, media content, media volume, scheduling, notes, reports, presets, and a passenger manifest. 
     
     
       4. The distributed architecture of  claim 1 , wherein the passenger IO node comprises at least one of a side ledge IO node and a passenger mobile IO node. 
     
     
       5. The distributed architecture of  claim 4 , wherein the side ledge IO node is disposed in at least one of a ledge adjacent to a passenger seat, a cabinet adjacent to a divan, or a night stand adjacent to a bed. 
     
     
       6. The distributed architecture of  claim 4 , wherein the crew IO node comprises at least one of a mobile crew IO node and a non-mobile crew IO node. 
     
     
       7. The distributed architecture of  claim 6 , wherein the controller controls the at least one controllable parameter in response to inputs received from a bulkhead IO node. 
     
     
       8. The distributed architecture of  claim 7 , wherein the bulkhead IO node is disposed on a bulkhead within the aircraft cabin. 
     
     
       9. The distributed architecture of  claim 7 , wherein the controller includes a command hierarchy to prioritize inputs received from the bulkhead IO node, the side ledge IO node, the passenger mobile IO node, and the crew mobile IO node, thereby avoiding conflicts between the inputs. 
     
     
       10. The distributed architecture of  claim 1 , wherein the command hierarchy prioritizes inputs from the crew IO node for at least one of the light intensity in the aircraft cabin, color of light in the aircraft cabin, temperature in the aircraft cabin, and a degree of openness of one or more window shades in the aircraft cabin, and prioritizes the passenger IP node of at least one other of the light intensity in the aircraft cabin, color of light in the aircraft cabin, temperature in the vehicle cabin, and a degree of openness of one or more window shades in the aircraft cabin. 
     
     
       11. A method of operation for a distributed architecture for multi-nodal control of functions in an aircraft cabin, wherein the system comprises a processor, a controller operatively connected to the processor, and a graphical user interface embodied in a passenger IO node operatively connected to the controller and a crew IO node operatively connected to the controller, the method comprising:
 displaying a menu for at least one controllable parameter on the graphical user interface of at least one of the passenger IO node and the crew IO node; 
 receiving a control input for the at least one controllable parameter from the at least one of the passenger IO node and the crew IO node; 
 adjusting, by the controller, the at least one controllable parameter consistent with the control input, 
 wherein the at least one controllable parameter comprises at least one of light intensity in the aircraft cabin, color on light in the aircraft cabin, temperature in the aircraft cabin, and a degree of openness of at least one window shade in the aircraft cabin, and 
 wherein the controller includes a command hierarchy to prioritize the inputs received from the passenger IO node and the crew IO node, thereby avoiding conflicts between the inputs. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controllable parameters also includes at least one of media type, media content, media volume, scheduling, notes, reports, presets, and a passenger manifest. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the media content includes a video library, an audio library, and a map view. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the map view comprises a global map view and a local map view. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 placing the graphical user interface into a sleep mode if selection of a controllable parameter is not received. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controllable parameter is associated with at least one of the entire cabin of the aircraft, at least one zone within the cabin of the aircraft, and at least one seat within the cabin of the aircraft. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controllable parameter is controllable via an interface presenting an isometric view of at least a portion of the cabin of the aircraft. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein light intensity includes an illumination for at least one of a cabin light, a table light, and a reading light. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the displaying of the menu for the at least one controllable parameter includes displaying a light icon, a media icon, a thermostat icon, and a window shade icon. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the passenger IO node comprises at least one of a side ledge IO node and a passenger mobile IO node. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the side ledge IO node is disposed in at least one of a ledge adjacent to a passenger seat, a cabinet adjacent to a divan, or a night stand adjacent to a bed. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the crew IO node comprises at least one of a mobile crew IO node and a non-mobile crew IO node. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the controller controls the at least one controllable parameter in response to inputs received from a bulkhead IO node, and wherein the bulkhead  10  node is disposed on a bulkhead within the aircraft cabin. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controller includes a command hierarchy to prioritize inputs received from the bulkhead IO node, the side ledge IO node, the passenger mobile IO node, and the crew mobile IO node, thereby avoiding conflicts between the inputs. 
     
     
       25. An executable computer program product providing instructions for a method of operation for a distributed architecture for multi-nodal control of functions in an aircraft cabin, wherein the system comprises a processor, a controller operatively connected to the processor, and a graphical user interface embodied in a passenger IO node operatively connected to the controller and a crew IO node operatively connected to the controller, wherein the instructions comprise:
 displaying a menu for at least one controllable parameter on the graphical user interface of at least one of the passenger IO node and the crew IO node; 
 receiving a control input for the at least one controllable parameter from the at least one of the passenger IO node and the crew IO node; 
 adjusting by the controller, the at least one controllable parameter consistent with the control input, 
 wherein the at least one controllable parameter comprises at least one selected from a group comprising light intensity, light color, temperature, and a degree of openness of at least one window shade, and 
 wherein the controller includes a command hierarchy to prioritize the inputs received from the passenger IO node and the crew IO node, thereby avoiding conflicts between the inputs. 
 
     
     
       26. The executable computer program product of  claim 25 , wherein the controllable parameters also includes at least one of media type, media content, media volume scheduling, notes, reports, presets, and a passenger manifest. 
     
     
       27. The executable computer program product of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 placing the at least one of the passenger IO node and the crew IO node into a sleep mode if selection of a controllable parameter is not received. 
 
     
     
       28. The executable computer program product of  claim 25 , wherein the controllable parameter is associated with at least one of the entire cabin of the aircraft, at least one zone within the cabin of the aircraft, and at least one seat within the cabin of the aircraft. 
     
     
       29. The executable computer program of  claim 25 , wherein the passenger IO node comprises at least one of a side ledge IO node and a passenger mobile IO node. 
     
     
       30. The executable computer program of  claim 29 , wherein the side ledge IO node is disposed in at least one of a ledge adjacent to a passenger seat, a cabinet adjacent to a divan, or a night stand adjacent to a bed. 
     
     
       31. The executable computer program of  claim 29 , wherein the crew IO node comprises at least one of a mobile crew IO node and a non-mobile crew IO node. 
     
     
       32. The executable computer program of  claim 31 , wherein the controller controls the at least one controllable parameter in response to inputs received from a bulkhead IO node, and wherein the bulkhead IO node is disposed on a bulkhead within the aircraft cabin. 
     
     
       33. The executable computer program of  claim 32 , wherein the controller includes a command hierarchy to prioritize inputs received from the bulkhead IO node, the side ledge  10  node, the passenger mobile IO node, and the crew mobile IO node, thereby avoiding conflicts between the inputs.